When and Where: November 12, 2023 – Rindge, N.H. (Sodexo Field)
Score: #1 seed/#1 Franklin Pierce University 1, #7 seed Southern New Hampshire University 1 (FPU wins on PKs, 6-5)
Records: SNHU 10-5-4, FPU 16-0-2
Junior
Shane Siegel (Selden, N.Y.) tied the game, 1-1, in the 44th minute, but the seventh-seeded Southern New Hampshire University men's soccer team fell to top-seeded and top-ranked Franklin Pierce University, 6-5, on penalty kicks in the NE10 Championship final Sunday evening at Sodexo Field.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
KEY MOMENTS
- Southern New Hampshire kept it scoreless in the 18th minute when Neal made a diving stop at the left post off a free-kick bid for Franklin Pierce.
- SNHU had its own dangerous chance in the 21st minute when sophomore Iago Perez (Oleiros, Spain) sent a shot off the right post.
- Franklin Pierce finally broke the ice in the 39th minute when Younes Addar Khanoussi collected a service from the left flank and found the back of the net.
- The Penmen tied it with 1:44 left before halftime when a corner service came out to the top of the box for Cortazar, who hit a low shot that bounced through traffic, before Siegel punched it in at the right post.
- The next 66-plus minutes did not yield a goal, as the teams went to penalty kicks to decide the champion. Franklin Pierce led 3-2 and 4-3, before senior Liam Evans (Rock Hill, N.Y.) evened it at four and Franklin Pierce missed, sending it to extra kicks. After both teams scored to make it 5-5, the Penmen missed and Ravens converted to win the title.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Franklin Pierce 'keeper Jett Barbic stopped four of the five shots he faced.
- FPU outshot SNHU, 24-13, including 9-5 in shots on target.
- The Ravens also held a 7-3 advantage in Corner kicks.
NOTES
- Southern New Hampshire extends its unbeaten streak to four matches (3-0-1).
- SNHU, which is in the NE10 Championship for the 23rd consecutive season, moves to 26-10-7 (.686) all-time in the NE10 postseason, including 1-7-3 against Franklin Pierce. The top-seeded Ravens ended fourth-seeded SNHU's season in the semifinals last season with a 7-1 victory.
- The Penmen are the second No. 7 seed ever to reach the NE10 finals. Le Moyne College also did it last season, falling to top-seeded Franklin Pierce, 2-0.
- Neal earned the prestigious Elite 24 Award, which honors the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average (GPA) participating at the finals site at each NE10 Championship.
- Junior Nicolas Gonzalez (Santander, Spain) and Isnaba Namussé (Fogo, Caper Verde) claimed spots on the NE10 All-Championship Team.
- The all-time series is even, 30-30-7. Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 1 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II Top 25, had won nine of the last 11 meetings, including six straight. The Ravens had also won seven consecutive matches at home, with the Penmen last winning in Rindge on Sept. 17, 2014 (3-0).
- Southern New Hampshire had its shutout streak ended at 380:05.
- Siegel's goal is his second of his first season with the Penmen.
- SNHU is now 132-36-24 (.750) over its last 192 matches dating back to the beginning of the 2013 National Championship season.
WHAT'S NEXT
- The Penmen will learn their fate for the NCAA Division II Championship on the NCAA Selection Show, which airs on ncaa.com on Monday (Nov. 13) at 7 p.m.
